Steve Chabot for Congress called on Kate Schroder to resign her position on the Cincinnati Board of Health Monday after revelations she knowingly helped advance an unethical hiring scheme despite acknowledging it was wrong — and an explanation in which she refused to answer critical questions and omitted key information.
“Kate Schroder’s explanation of her involvement in an unethical hiring scheme at the Cincinnati Board of Health raise only greater questions and red flags about what she knew and when she knew it,” said Chabot for Congress spokesman Jon Conradi. “We already knew Schroder directly participated in a hiring scheme that a Hamilton County judge ruled was unethical and which drew lawsuits at significant cost to taxpayers, now we learn that Schroder participated in the final interview and selection process, knowing it was wrong.”
“The records and explanation Schroder provided to the media indicate she thought the hiring was a potential ethics issue and yet she proceeded to participate in and facilitate the process anyway,” Conradi continued “If Schroder knew the hiring process was ethically questionable, that begs the question, why did she continue to facilitate the hiring process that a Hamilton County judge ruled was unethical and which drew lawsuits for corruption costing taxpayers thousands of dollars?”
“In addition, Schroder refuses to answer questions about whether she endorsed the hiring decision and her explanation omits whether she ever received legal or official guidance confirming the hiring would be unethical in advance of the final decision,” Conradi said. “It is clear that Kate Schroder does not have the judgment to represent hardworking Ohioans in Congress nor to continue to serve on the Board of Health.”
“Schroder should immediately resign from the Board of Health and provide a full accounting of what she knew, when she knew it and whether she endorsed the unethical hiring scheme,” Conradi said. “Only then can the process begin to restore public confidence to the scandal-ridden board.”
Kate Schroder’s tenure at the Board of Health has been a story of mismanagement, scandal and lawsuits, costing taxpayers thousands of dollars and undermining the public health system.
Learn more about Schroder’s record HERE.
And watch the campaign’s first television ad, “Mismanagement,” HERE.
SCHRODER’S RESPONSE SHOWS COMPLACENY OR CULBAILITY IN UNETHICAL SCHEME
Responding to a television ad from Chabot for Congress exposing Schroder’s record on the Board of Health, Schroder provided records to the Cincinnati Business Courier that demonstrate she knew the consideration and selection of Ronald L. Robinson, Sr. was wrong, but continued to facilitate its advance:
- “Schroder served on an interview committee for the job. The campaign provided emails and text messages showing she repeatedly raised questions with health department and city officials seeking information about whether hiring Robinson was a potential conflict of interest. ‘I just realized it’s probably important for Ron to check with Zach/law department about his interest in the CFO position,’ Schroder texted Moore on Oct. 25, 2018. ‘This way, he can head off any questions about potential conflicts of interest. Not sure if he’s done this … Do you want to suggest? Or should I? … Wasn’t sure if it is confidential.’ Schroder sent emails to two other city officials as well as the city’s law department directly asking whether Robinson’s candidacy met ethical and legal requirements. The December Enquirer story said the city’s law department claimed it did not know about Robinson’s candidacy. ‘I pushed in multiple ways to make sure we were getting correct legal guidance,’ Schroder said. She declined to detail any input she gave on whether Robinson should be hired.” (Chris Wetterich, Rep. Steve Chabot attacks Kate Schroder in first ad; she calls it ‘lies,’ Cincinnati Business Courier, 8/14/20)
SCHRODER PARTICIPATED IN THE FINAL INTERVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS — WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE WRONGDOING BEING COMMITTED:
Kate Schroder was a member of the Board of Health at the time and was directly involved in the interview process:
- The Board of Health winnowed 41 applicants down to 10, including Ronald L. Robinson Sr. who was vice chairman of the Board of Health and head of the board’s finance committee. “By month’s end, the city’s human resources department winnowed 41 applications to 10 top candidates, including Ronald L. Robinson Sr., once a Cincinnati financial analyst for the Indianapolis insurer Anthem, according to his LinkedIn profile. At that time, though, Robinson was vice chairman of the Board of Health and also was the head of the board’s finance committee. Mayor John Cranley named Robinson to the Board of Health in 2016.” (Anne Saker, “Health dept. hire of board member as finance director prompts lawsuit,” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 12/15/19)
- Robinson and [Chadrian] Johnson both made it to the final round of interviews and were interviewed by Schroder. “Robinson and Johnson made the cut to the final three candidates. Lichtenstein wrote a letter of recommendation for Robinson. Among the board members doing the job interview was Kate Schroder, now a candidate for Ohio’s 1st District U.S. House seat.” (Anne Saker, “Health dept. hire of board member as finance director prompts lawsuit,” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 12/15/19)
SCHRODER’S LACK OF JUDGMENT COST TAXPAYERS “THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS”
In August 2018, the Cincinnati Board of Health was sued for violating state and city law and department policy by hiring one of its own members as finance director — costing Ohio taxpayers “thousands of dollars in legal fees:”
- “When the Cincinnati Board of Health hired a new health commissioner in August 2018, board members believed stability had come to the city department that inspects restaurants, fights the spread of disease and provides health care for 40,000 residents. But the first big move of the new administration, hiring a new finance director, has blown up this year in court challenges that could put the city on the hook for thousands of dollars in legal fees. A Hamilton County judge ruled in September that the board violated ethics rules in hiring one of its own members as department finance director. State law, city ordinance and department policy prohibit a member of a public oversight board from a job with the agency that is overseen. The judge’s order required the department to dismiss the new hire immediately and seek repayment of salary.” (Anne Saker, “Health dept. hire of board member as finance director prompts lawsuit,” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 12/15/19)
- The lawsuit could put the city on the hook for thousands of dollars in legal fees. “But the first big move of the new administration, hiring a new finance director, has blown up this year in court challenges that could put the city on the hook for thousands of dollars in legal fees.” (Anne Saker, “Health dept. hire of board member as finance director prompts lawsuit,” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 12/15/19)
- The plaintiff’s law firm requested the judge order the city to pay $32,470 in legal fees plus $1,000 to the whistleblower. “The Cincinnati law firm representing Jean Gould, Markovits Stock DeMarco, has asked Ruehlman to order the city to pay $32,470 in legal fees and award Gould at least $1,000 ‘to encourage other taxpayer actions that shine light on government corruption when the government has failed to take corrective action.’” (Anne Saker, “Health dept. hire of board member as finance director prompts lawsuit,” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 12/15/19)
